Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Sally Lindenny staked her claim as being the bargain buy of the spring and summer with her victory in the feature trot on Riverton Cup Day. Yesterday, the trotter made it win number four for trainer-driver Kirstin Green when bagging yet another win on a grass track. The mare has either been in the first three placings, or she has galloped out of contention in her 15 starts since joining the Green stable in September. Sally Lindenny could have added another mistake to her ledger in the…

By Adam Hamilton Exciting young Kiwi pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming looks right on target for the $450,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup. Mark and Nathan Purdon’s emerging open-class star launched his Aussie raid with a close and fantastic second to proven topliner Better Eclipse in last night’s $50,000 Casey Classic at Melton. It was a terrific pointer to the five-year-old prospects in next Saturday night’s Hunter Cup against an even stronger field, headed by Leap To Fame. Don’t Stop Dreaming sat in the one-one trail, launched with a big sprint from…

By Jonny Turner The search for a deserved win takes Got You Covered to the return of harness racing at Riverton on Sunday. The pacer will be among the first fields of horses in almost 24 years to compete on the Riverton grass track when he starts as the favourite in the Riverton Cup. A second in the Group 3 Northern Southland Cup and a fourth in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup look outstanding form references to take to Riverton’s big day. Combine them with the Got You Covered’s outstanding…

Jonny Turner’s  selections for Riverton.                 Race   Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.20pm 2 California Dreaming5 Robyns Art4 Rotten Rodden1 Mechanical Bull   Race 212.46pm 2 Quercus Rubra9 Styrax3 Hail Stone4 Wattle Hill     Race 31.21pm 3 Pounamu5 Montage9 Peace Of Heaven1 Rakadeaks   Race 41.56pm 2 Blithe7 Night Watch14 Fiery Bandito8 Hot Saucy Betty  Race 52.21pm 6 Falcons Watch5 Nyla1 I’m Watching You2 Sly Tricks   Race 62.46pm 8 Got You Covered4 Moonlite Dream6 Hacksaw Ridge2 Itoje  Race 73.20pm 1 Bridget Louise11 Breeny’s…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Riverton    

By Jonny Turner Kyle Cameron hopes a new formula can be a winning one when Style Council shoots for a deserved victory at Methven on Sunday. Cameron heads to the Methven grass with three of his team, including Style Council who put in two excellent performances at the recent Blenheim meeting. The five-year-old hit the line strongly in both of his starts, running second on Friday and fifth on Sunday. The two good runs have come since Cameron has decided to Style Council with a sit, which isn’t always easy…

By Michael Guerin Scott Phelan isn’t sure whether he has trained four winners on a night before but he knows he had never trained five. Until last night. Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon dominated Friday night’s Alexandra Park card training five winners from six races they had reps in, winning all the pacing races they contested. They also produced two quinellas, with stable star Merlin once again beating Sooner The Better in the main pace even after having to work early. Three-year-olds Better Knuckle Up and Escape Artist…

By Michael Guerin The trainers set to completely dominate Alexandra Park tonight say their biggest gun is ready to fire. If you saw dual Derby winner Merlin at last week’s trials you would agree. The exceptional four-year-old headlines the first Alexandra Park meeting for 2024 as he starts to hone down toward a Sydney campaign that could include the Chariots Of Fire (March 2) and, if he wins that, the A$1million Miracle Mile a week later. Merlin hasn’t raced since winning the NZ Derby at Addington on December 10 but…